I recently heard a quote via electronic news media supporting an anti-war demonstration that was so thoughtless it caught my attention.

Regarding the U.S. war in Iraq, the quote was: “This is not a war the people want.”

There has never been a war the American “people” wanted. “People” throughout our history includes every citizen. Every citizen includes our administration, our congress, our local government and all citizens, right down to any child who can read.

Who wants a war?  No one.

The exception in this country was during the American Revolution, when patriots fought to free future generations from British rule in this country. Those future generations are us. Even then, loyalists did not want a war, nor did they know what freedom from an unelected king meant. They were afraid of change.

Thank God devoutly; we have citizens with enough foresight to understand that when we are attacked we cannot sit around mouthing platitudes if we wish to remain free.

Thank God devoutly; we have young citizens willing to put themselves in harm’s way to preserve what others have long ago died to give us.

Without the sacrifices of our armed forces and their families, we would have had among others, a king or queen ruling this land, or a kaiser, or an emperor, or what else? A terrorist of unknown faith - with destruction of our land beyond our imagination?

We’re not supposed to oppose that? We’re supposed to sit back and convince ourselves and others that no country would dare try to conquer us?

So, all of you who think this war is against your principals, your personal life, your family, your philosophy, who, pray tell, do you think is going to preserve your lifestyle?

The United States is not alone on planet Earth. There are those who despise us and there are those who love us and there are those who would infiltrate our country and bit by bit harm us in anyway possible. There are those born and raised here, U.S. citizens, who spout hatred for our country. They are not arrested or beheaded – as would happen to them in other countries. Malcontents are daily in the news and plugging away on computers pouring out rivers of hate and misinformation.

The Iraq war is not a popular war. History speaks of no war that was popular. Yet this phrase is repeated sanctimoniously by newscasters and written by reporters, especially while covering protests.

A prom queen is popular. A soft drink is popular. A hit musical is popular. Why would the killing of human beings be popular? What idiocy.

Keeping the faith with those who died for this country, perseverance in protecting our hard-won costly freedoms, and freeing other nations means continued freedom for us. That is why we fight wars. We claim no other land or country to be under our rule.

We all grieve the loss of life as we do through more wars in our lifetime than young people throwing demonstrations ever experienced. Obviously they have not been taught our true history or lessons learned through those wars.

I have some great doctors that give me good care, but a couple of them are a little bit impersonal and at times have had even an arrogant bedside manner.

Recently when going through a procedure I asked the doctor, “Do you know what this procedure is going to cost me?”

His reply, “No. That is not my business to know. I am here to keep you well, not worry about your cost.”

I said, “That’s interesting doctor. If I sold you a car, or furniture, or service I am fairly certain you would want to know the cost. I don’t think I could just sell it to you and let you know later how much it cost.”

The above conversation is one I have had several times in recent years with medical practitioners, and it always irritates me that there is no concern as to what procedures cost, or how the patient is going to pay (even their share) for these procedures. In addition, the cost of many prescriptions is beyond the scope of monthly budgets, and I have observed a “so what” attitude at the prescription counter and in some medical offices.

Now it is true that I have on occasion received some free samples, and kind concern from my primary doctor, but many of the specialists seem to be remote except when they are in the zone for an operation or procedure that will pay big dollars.

My hope is that all the folks who read this article will ask their doctors and their pharmacists what the costs are on the medications prescribed and services to be received, especially when they have insurance. This year alone I was able to reduce the cost to my company by thousands of dollars by shopping and keeping track of costs even when they were paid by my insurance company.

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Happy Healthy Days!